In his introduction to the meeting, Professor SANDY FLORENCE (dean of the University of London School of Pharmacy) said that, in the United Kingdom, so much was taken for granted in terms of medicine availability that it was difficult to conceive of the starkly contrasting situation in many other countries where there was often no access even to the most basic drugs. But it was more than a problem of access. Drugs had to be used properly and this depended on a long chain of factors from good manufacturing practice and quality control, to effective distribution, stock control, good dispensing practice, reliable information for health care professionals and patients, and monitoring of treatment. This meant that access to good quality information, books and continuing education was as important as access to drugs.
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